This is the first vintage of one of my personal favorite "go to" wines that showed poorly. Clear dark ruby, nose completely closed. Muted and diluted raspberry, dark cherry, blackberry, red and black fruit flavors with very little of the Stump Jump spiciness that you could always count on. Rather thin and uninteresting. Might be bottle variation and will try another before I say goodby to this long time friend. 14%Alc/vol. $8.99

Can you say "retraction"? Arrived home from the beach last night and Eileen had an open bottle of this and, voilla, delicious. Spicy raspberry and red fruit intermixed with hints of dark fruit, some garrique (funk)and tar on the finish. Really nice. Musta forgot to take the coat off of the tongue on the first go round. I just hope this isn't wide spread bottle variation.

Well, a couple of weeks ago our youngest daughter had to have someone to go to the Boston Flower Show with her. I said I would only go if she stopped at Kappy's on the way home. Hence our load of Stump Jump, schnee or no schnee.